מְנִיעוֹת

When a person wishes to perform some holy deed [uvda] and holy matter — and presumably he has many obstacles [meni'os], tangles, confusions, delays, and impediments on account of money. And when one merits to break through all the above and complete the holy deed — then from all the obstacles and confusions and from all the movements and thoughts he thought and did before completing the holy matter, from all this are formed lofty matters above in holiness, and all is inscribed above for good. Fortunate is one who merits to leap over and jump past all the obstacles — and merits to complete and perform some good deed! [Translator's note: No source citation appears for this teaching in this edition.]

When one merits to stand the trial in completeness — to overcome and strengthen oneself against all obstacles — then afterward all the obstructors are transformed into helpers and supporters; and from all the obstacles themselves is afterward formed help and support for the person to come to the ultimate good he seeks.

When a person wishes to draw close to holiness and likewise to the true Tzaddik — he is forbidden to put it to a test: saying that if it conducts itself with him in the proper manner regarding the drawing-close, he will know that it is from Heaven; and if not, not — for perhaps on the contrary this itself is his trial: that it should conduct itself with him then not in the proper manner, and many great obstacles should come to him — and the primary one is the obstacle of the mind [meni'as ha'moach]. And he should pay no heed to this at all and break through all the obstacles — and then specifically through this he will merit to draw close in completeness.